tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78027624168765066262024-03-12T20:24:44.924-04:00Blissfully UnawareI’m sure there was a point to this story…Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.comBlogger902125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-78890260953219853762017-05-17T13:31:00.003-04:002017-05-17T13:31:30.784-04:00Murder, She ReadAs any of you who have read this blog in the past will know, or at least as you <em>should</em> know, I am a regular participant in the Goodreads Annual Reading Challenge. <br />
<br />
It's not like its hard to take part, you just set yourself a goal and get reading. <em>(In fairness, if you should happen to have what I affectionately refer to as a <strong>'black hole of need'</strong> in your life (i.e. a husband and/or children...or a job) then finding time to read can be a bit tricky.)</em> <br />
<br />
As I wasn't feeling particularly ambitious on January 1st, I settled on a goal of 50 new books for the year...which I surpassed on May 5th. <br />
<br />
Turns out, I'm far more ambitious than originally thought. <br />
<br />
Looking back over the list of already completed titles I noticed an unintentional theme emerging. Turns out my reading list is a little...murder-y. <br />
<br />
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2017 Reading Challenge Book List</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>(limited to mysteries)</em></span></div>
<br />
<em>The Eyre Affair</em> – Jasper Fforde<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>Evans Above</em> – Rhys Bowen<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>Angora Alibi</em> – Sally Goldenbaum<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>Crewel Yule</em> – Monica Ferris<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>Cutwork</em> – Monica Ferris<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>Hanging by a Thread</em> – Monica Ferris<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>A Fatal Fleece</em> – Sally Goldenbaum<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>The Wedding Shawl</em> – Sally Goldenbaum<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>A Holiday Yarn</em> – Sally Goldenbaum<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>A Murderous Yarn</em> – Monica Ferris<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>Unraveled Sleeve</em> – Monica Ferris<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>Moon Spinners</em> – Sally Goldenbaum<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>A Stitch in Time</em> – Monica Ferris<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>A Quiet Life in the Country</em> – T.E. Kinsey<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>Maisie Dobbs</em> – Jacqueline Winspear<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>Friends, Lovers, Chocolate</em> – Alexander McCall Smith<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>Patterns in the Sand</em> – Sally Goldenbaum<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>Framed in Lace</em> – Monica Ferris<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>Crewel World</em> – Monica Ferris<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>Death by Cashmere</em> – Sally Goldenbaum<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>A Deadly Grind</em> – Victoria Hamilton <o:p></o:p><br />
<em>The Sunday Philosophy Club</em> – Alexander McCall Smith<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>The Secret of Chimneys</em> – Agatha Christie<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>Partners in Crime</em> – Agatha Christie<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>The Secret Adversary</em> – Agatha Christie<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>Cocaine Blues</em> – Kerry Greenwood<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>The Cuckoo’s Calling</em> – Robert Galbraith<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories, Volume II</em> - Arthur Conan Doyle<br />
<em>Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories, Volume I</em> - Arthur Conan Doyle <br />
<em>Endless Night </em>– Agatha Christie<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>Crooked House</em> – Agatha Christie<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley</em> – M.C. Beaton<o:p></o:p><br />
<em>The Quiche of Death</em> – M.C. Beaton <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
The fictional bodies are stacking up like cord wood around here! <br />
<br />
till next time,<br />
<em>HistoryDiva</em>Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-64125823216721180852017-04-26T12:30:00.000-04:002017-04-26T12:51:59.655-04:00About that last post......it wasn't published in January. It was published three minutes ago. I'm a slacker.<br />
<br />
Well, it's not really that I'm a slacker, it's more that life shifts its focus and things fall out of your day to day routine. And once they're gone, it's hard to get them back on the list of 'oh-yeah-I-need-to-do-that.' It's just life I suppose. Not a very deep or original thought, but there it is. <br />
<br />
And then there's my blog. Once such a huge source of comfort and creativity for me. Blogging really isn't done anymore, most everyone has switched to vlogging instead. I'm not really comfortable in front of the camera, you just have to look at the pictures I take to figure that one out. And I don't have the equipment needed for a vlog anyway. Hell...if no one bothers to read what you have to say why put it out there in a video? Who'd watch??? <em>(Don't answer that...it would be weirdos, I know.)</em> <br />
<br />
So that leaves me a bit stymied as to how I should handle things. I don't want to end the blog, because I enjoy looking back at the old posts and pictures...but I'm not updating it as regularly as I could/should be. This blog has always been real outlet for me...and it's so much cheaper than therapy. <br />
<br />
Anyway! The long and the short of it is...life changes.<br />
<br />
till next time, <br />
<em>HistoryDiva</em><br />
Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-3521804633791661012017-01-04T08:00:00.000-05:002017-04-26T12:33:37.443-04:00Happy Birthday, Blog! Happy Ninth Birthday, poor neglected blog. I'm still happy you're here...even if I don't visit much. <br />
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love and kisses,</div>
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<em>HistoryDiva</em></div>
Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-39999357912855017142016-09-11T08:46:00.000-04:002016-09-11T08:46:07.106-04:00Fifteen Years<i>I originally posted these thoughts on September 11, 2008, seven years after that terrible fall day. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Today, fifteen years after the events of September 11, 2001, I feel that these memories are even more poignant and valuable. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Not only was America forever changed by these events, but we now live in a world that would be unrecognizable to the people we were before 8:46 am that Tuesday morning.</i><br />
<br />
<i>I dedicate this post to the memory of everyone we lost that day. You are still missed. You are still mourned. We carry you in our hearts.</i><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsG1nOputsCf7CJcTg911kqZzUw7YhP-ONISiJWVr8NuCFXaZQY3WOzkXmY3qs0ZUwqPa5hm7m6rMczlI1CSuw-PHVhKGOFOSZzoEUM9BGP8lBoHcvSOr9CbS2j2InPnRESEe3AEpD_U0/s1600/one-world-trade-center.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsG1nOputsCf7CJcTg911kqZzUw7YhP-ONISiJWVr8NuCFXaZQY3WOzkXmY3qs0ZUwqPa5hm7m6rMczlI1CSuw-PHVhKGOFOSZzoEUM9BGP8lBoHcvSOr9CbS2j2InPnRESEe3AEpD_U0/s400/one-world-trade-center.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freedom Tower - One World Trade</td></tr>
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<a href="http://blissfullyunaware-historydiva.blogspot.com/2008/09/dear-christine.html" target="_blank"><b>Dear Christine</b></a></div>
<br />
Christine Lee Hanson was born on February 22, 1999. A bright-eyed and
inquisitive toddler, she attended Knowledge Beginnings, an early
learning center in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. She was the only child of
Peter and Sue Hanson of Groton, Massachusetts.<br />
<br />
At age two, Christine became the youngest victim of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.<br />
<br />
Christine
and her parents were on their way to California for a trip to
Disneyland and a visit with relatives when their flight, United Airlines
flight 175, was hijacked and flown into the south tower of the World
Trade Center.<br />
<br />
The young family has been honored with
various memorials throughout the United States. In 2002 Sue Hanson was
posthumously awarded a doctorate degree in Pathology from Boston
University, which has established an annual lecture to be held on
September 11 in Sue’s honor. In 2003 Northeastern University established
an annual lecture series and scholarship in Peter Hanson’s name, and
the Boston University Medical Center dedicated a pediatrics treatment
room to the Hansons. And in 2005, Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo opened the
Hanson Exploration Station, a state-of-the-art educational and
corporate meeting space named in the Hanson’s honor.<br />
<br />
In 2003 an orchestral elegy titled <i>Christine’s Lullaby</i> was written to honor the memory of Christine Lee Hanson and you can listen to it <a href="http://www.carlschroeder.com/christines_lullaby.html">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Christine
is survived by her grandparents, Eunice and Lee Hanson of Easton,
Connecticut, and her great-grandmother, Ok-Hee Kim of California.<br />
<br />
A memorial website for the family can be found <a href="http://www.petehansonandfamily.com/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
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*****</div>
<br />
2,996 men, women, and children lost their lives on September 11, 2001.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.project2996.com/listmaster.html">2,996. </a><br />
<br />
As
I have mentioned before, there are things I don’t talk about on this
blog. I leave my past where it is. I avoid what I find painful. And this
is one of the most painful things I have ever been through. But I feel
that it is time that I talk about this, and I hope that in doing so I
can honor the memory of Christine Lee Hanson.<br />
<br />
<br />
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*****</div>
<br />
On
the morning of September 11, 2001 I was getting ready for class. I was
in my first semester at a local community college. It was a Tuesday. I
had a 2600 level Environmental Science lab, a German language course,
and a literature class that day.<br />
<br />
As per my usual
morning routine I had wandered around the house in my pajamas while
eating breakfast and wasted a few minutes watching mindless television
while waiting for my hair to dry after my shower.<br />
<br />
I got up, and got dressed…jeans, sneakers, a tee-shirt and a hoodie…the usual.<br />
<br />
I’m
not sure why but it is an understood custom in my parent’s house that
no matter what you were watching and no matter what time of day it was
you put the television back on our local ABC affiliate station before
turning it off.<br />
<br />
So I did.<br />
<br />
And I don’t
really remember when exactly the tears started rolling down my face. And
I don’t really remember dropping the remote from my suddenly limp
fingers though I remember distinctly the sound of it hitting the floor
and the cover of the battery compartment popping loose. I don’t remember
when exactly I stopped breathing, but I do remember that when I started
again I inhaled raggedly and choked on a sob.<br />
<br />
I was just…numb. All I could do was stare at the television screen…at the images of horror happening live.<br />
<br />
The
phone rang. I turned and looked at the small black handset resting in
the cradle. It rang again. It was my mother. Her voice was comforting,
her words calming, her tone reassuring. I was fine, she was fine, WE
were fine, go to class.<br />
<br />
I drove mechanically, my
thoughts swimming. I turned on the radio. News everywhere, more planes,
more fires, the Pentagon, a field in Pennsylvania.<br />
<br />
I parked and walked inside. The classroom was noisy. Friendly chatter, laughing….they didn’t know.<br />
<br />
“Turn on a radio. Get to a news website.” I told them.<br />
<br />
And they did.<br />
<br />
And
silence fell. And tears came. And a classroom full of relative
strangers clung to each other for support, giving comfort, giving
encouragement. More people filled the lab room, crowding in, watching,
listening. What did it mean? What should we do? Stay here? Go home? We
looked to the professor for guidance. She was weeping.<br />
<br />
Somewhere
in the room a pager went off. A student, a young man, tall, blond,
upright, stood and walked to the door. He turned to the professor. He
said he was in the Army Reserve and that they had just paged him. He had
to report for duty. The professor clung to him for a moment, her grief
in plain sight. The room was quiet as we all stared.<br />
<br />
He
turned to us. Slowly looked at each tear stained face. He saluted his
fellow students, turned and walked from the room. I have never seen him
again but I will never forget the look in his eyes that day.<br />
<br />
All classes were canceled.<br />
<br />
Students wandered the campus aimlessly…hugging friends, hugging strangers.<br />
<br />
The American flag standing in the center of the campus danced on the light fall breeze.<br />
<br />
I went home. I felt useless. I felt lost.<br />
<br />
I felt lucky.<br />
<br />
I lived in Georgia. My family had called from all over the country. We were all alive and accounted for.<br />
<br />
I felt guilty…because I lived in Georgia and my whole family was fine.<br />
<br />
The
rest of that day is blurred in my memory. But I know that it was a day
that seemed to have no end. Minutes dragged. Hours stretched. America
mourned.<br />
<br />
Television stations suspended broadcasting and
went off the air. Black screens with messages of sorrow. Others
cancelled regular programming to allow for new coverage to expand…30
channels…all live…all smoke and flames and sirens and rubble.<br />
<br />
At midnight I turned the television off and crawled into my bed, feeling like I had been beaten.<br />
<br />
The next day dawned.<br />
<br />
And the next.<br />
<br />
And the next.<br />
<br />
Smoke slowly cleared.<br />
<br />
Rubble was slowly moved.<br />
<br />
And America rose from the ashes.<br />
<br />
<br />
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*****</div>
<br />
So,
dear Christine, there you have it. My memories of that day pulled from
their hiding place and put onto this blog. I’m sorry there isn’t more I
can share. I’m sorry that time has clouded things and made me forget the
details. But perhaps it is better for both of us that these feelings
are somewhat blurred at the edges now.<br />
<br />
I have books on
my shelves at home that have the images of that day inside them. Maybe
someday I’ll be able to open one and look inside instead of letting them
sit there, side by side on that bottom shelf, and quietly gather dust.
Maybe someday.<br />
<br />
And maybe someday, if I’m lucky, my life
will be blessed with a little girl like you. And I’ll hug her and play
with her and teach her about the world just like your mommy and daddy
taught you. And someday, when she’s old enough to understand, I’ll tell
her about you and your parents. I’ll tell her what happened that day.
I’ll hold her close as we look at those pictures and I’ll do my best to
help her understand that we still don’t really understand why there are
such bad people in this world. And I’ll do my best to tell her what this
wonderful country was like before that day, back in the days when you
ran on the grass under the summer sunshine and watched Blue’s Clues and
Bear in the Big Blue House and drank apple juice and ate Cheerios.<br />
<br />
I promise I’ll do my best, Christine.<br />
<br />
But most of all, dear Christine, I promise that I’ll never forget.<br />
Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-83334870050876363162016-01-04T08:00:00.000-05:002016-01-04T08:00:00.141-05:00Time Flies Like An Arrow...<div style="text-align: center;">
...fruit flies like a banana.</div>
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Blissfully Unaware is 8 years old, today!</div>
Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-36593168779633720282015-12-14T12:00:00.000-05:002015-12-14T12:12:16.046-05:00So, what with one thing and another...Well, I went on vacation. And it was lovely. And there will be more about it later because I need to get my act in gear and get all the pictures off my phone in anticipation of entertaining blog posts and possibly getting a new phone! <br />
<br />
And then November just kinda got away from me.<br />
<br />
Things have been busy! <br />
<br />
So...if I don't manage to get an update posted till after Christmas...well...oh well! <br />
<br />
love and kisses,<br />
- <em>HistoryDiva</em>Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-74177754275253236612015-11-01T08:00:00.000-05:002017-04-27T13:06:25.343-04:00The Misadventures of Midget<em>Hi there! I'm catching up on some 'back dated' entries that I have saved as drafts in the background/editing area of the blog. Might as well tidy up a bit while I'm poking around!</em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em>love and kisses, </em><br />
<em>HistoryDiva</em><br />
<em>April 27, 2017</em><br />
<br />
This story is...not a new one, but that's okay. The original content of this post (the pictures) are about two years old now. <br />
<br />
From late 2013 to early 2014 I traveled with my aunt and uncle for over a month (one week a month for four months), meaning that between work and travel it seemed like I wasn't home that often. After returning home from one of these trips I noticed that my cat was looking...unwell. <br />
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My normally healthy furball was noticeably thin. He'd become very clingy, needing lots of attention and affection and got visibly upset if we were in the house but beyond his reach (<em>i.e. in the bathroom</em>). He also got very chatty, vocalizing more than ever before. <br />
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So I took him to see our local vet. </div>
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Turns out...he'd become diabetic. This condition may have been looming on the horizon for him anyway, as he's always been a big cat, but the stress caused by my extended absence seems to have caused been enough to trigger it fully. <br />
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So after lots of blood work, and tests, and overnight stays at the vet's office...he's now medicated and on a special diet and has somehow gotten back up to 18 lbs on just a 1/2 cup of food a day. <br />
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Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-22834162569944026112015-10-30T14:30:00.000-04:002015-10-30T14:57:44.334-04:00Hi There!So...I was totally supposed to be DONE posting about my trip to NC last year and on to other adventures by this time but its actually been a bit hectic around here and that just hasn't happened. Sorry about that! <br />
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Maybe I'll be able to catch up next week!<br />
<br />
Or...maybe I'll go on vacation instead...<br />
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smooches,<br />
- <em>HistoryDiva</em><br />
<em></em><br />
Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-51726869993490452042015-10-24T12:00:00.000-04:002017-04-27T12:09:44.509-04:00Hideaway in the Hills: A Mountain Vacation - Day Six<em>Hi there! I'm catching up on some 'back dated' entries that I have saved as drafts in the background/editing area of the blog. Might as well tidy up a bit while I'm poking around!</em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em>love and kisses, </em><br />
<em>HistoryDiva</em><br />
<em>April 27, 2017</em><br />
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The last day of our mountain vacation - February 27, 2014.<br />
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One of the best things about this resort was the 'take a book, leave a book' library in the office. Apparently folks are constantly leaving their vacation paperbacks behind them in the units and the collection got so large that the staff decided to actually do something about it. The books are all 'free to a good home' and the guests are welcome to leave behind anything they have finished reading...which means is you like thrillers and weepy chick lit you're covered. <br />
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Our big 'adventure' for the day was visiting local wineries and sampling ALL the wines! My aunt and uncle have developed a passion for visiting wineries while traveling and are always bringing home new vintages for us to try. It was an entertaining and tasty way to end our vacation. <br />
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Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-212672174210827412015-10-23T14:30:00.000-04:002017-04-27T11:54:53.402-04:00Hideaway in the Hills: A Mountain Vacation - Day Five<em>Hi there! I'm catching up on some 'back dated' entries that I have saved as drafts in the background/editing area of the blog. Might as well tidy up a bit while I'm poking around!</em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em>love and kisses, </em><br />
<em>HistoryDiva</em><br />
<em>April 26, 2017</em> <br />
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Day Five of our trip, February 26, 2014...and it appears that we either didn't do much this day OR I didn't take any pictures OR I just forgot!!! <br />
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Anyway!<br />
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Have you seen the movie <em>Dirty Dancing</em>? It was shot in and around Lake Lure. Remember that scene where Baby runs across the golf course to ask her dad for money? Well...that would be the green (<em>okay, <span style="color: #660000;">brown</span> cause it's winter</em>) right there in the center of these pictures. The resort we stayed at offers special tours during the summer to all the movie fans who turn up wanting see the movie locations. <br />
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<br />Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-62427158359873472082015-10-22T14:00:00.000-04:002017-04-27T11:54:19.940-04:00Hideaway in the Hills: A Mountain Vacation - Day Four<em>Hi there! I'm catching up on some 'back dated' entries that I have saved as drafts in the background/editing area of the blog. Might as well tidy up a bit while I'm poking around!</em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em>love and kisses, </em><br />
<em>HistoryDiva</em><br />
<em>April 26, 2017</em> <br />
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Day Four of the trip, February 25, 2014.<br />
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Today we did some more local sightseeing, mostly down by Lake Lure and then we wandered and shopped a bit in the little tourist town. <br />
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So...here are some pictures of the lake. <br />
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The DivaUncle...working his new favorite hat. </div>
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Ducks!</div>
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Yup, more ducks. </div>
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I don't remember if this was a heron or a crane...it's been THREE YEARS since I looked at these photos you guys. <br />
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Loved these two fearless fowl!</div>
They came so close to the shore <em>(checking to see if we had any treats...but alas, we didn't)</em> that we could have reached out and petted them. <br />
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Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-57271955616904829732015-10-21T13:14:00.000-04:002017-04-27T11:54:34.017-04:00Hideaway in the Hills: A Mountain Vacation - Day Three<em>Hi there! I'm catching up on some 'back dated' entries that I have saved as drafts in the background/editing area of the blog. Might as well tidy up a bit while I'm poking around!</em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em>love and kisses, </em><br />
<em>HistoryDiva</em><br />
<em>April 26, 2017</em> <br />
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Day Three of our trip to the mountains, February 24, 2014.<br />
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Today we took in some more of the local color and did the 'tourist' thing...which totally means we hit up a State Park. <br />
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Our first stop was....Blowing Rock State Park.<br />
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This place blows. <em>(See what I did there??)</em> I mean that literally. The park is located at one end of a long valley that just funnels wind like crazy! There is an old Native American legend about that rocky ledge you'll see in the upper left of the first picture, all about a brave warrior and a maiden. I'd tell it here, but then you'd have nothing to Google later! <br />
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It was a beautiful spot to be on a sunny, late winter afternoon. But it was a bit on the 'seriously chilly' side that day...as illustrated below by my aunt who is wearing six or seven layers. <br />
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One of the other attractions in the area are what is know as the 'Church of the Frescos' locations. Years ago an artist traveling in the area was commissioned by several area churches to paint religious frescos in their chapels. These are small, out of the way area churches. The communities which support these churches leave the doors to the buildings unlocked so that folks can come in to view the frescos and have a quiet moment or two the lord.<br />
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The paintings are beautiful and moving...but to me, taking a picture of something like that just seems...wrong somehow. So instead, I found a fantastically fun stained glass window which depicted the Ark and lookit...<br />
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STAINED GLASS TURTLES!!! </div>
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One of my favorite highlights of all my family's yearly vacation road trip to visit the grandparents was getting to stop at the New River Gorge overlook in West Virginia. <br />
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If you ever get the chance to visit, stop and take a look...it's the most beautiful, peaceful place I've ever been. <br />
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So you can imagine my surprise when my uncle let me know that the river we were driving along was...the New River! It was like running into an old friend unexpectedly and made my day. <br />
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Our last stop of the day was Ashe County Cheese, a local dairy.<br />
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They store their milk in...GIGANTIC COWS!!! <br />
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Day. Made.</div>
Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-78135341298651423812015-10-20T13:12:00.000-04:002017-04-26T13:22:19.159-04:00Hideaway in the Hills: A Mountain Vacation - Day Two<em>Hi there! I'm catching up on some 'back dated' entries that I have saved as drafts in the background/editing area of the blog. Might as well tidy up a bit while I'm poking around!</em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em>love and kisses, </em><br />
<em>HistoryDiva</em><br />
<em>April 26, 2017</em> <br />
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Day Two of our Mountain trip, February 23, 2014. We decided that scenery was the main requirement of the day and poked about twisty mountain back roads all afternoon before stopping for a very late lunch at a roadside dinner...where we caused quite a stir because tourists don't usually stop there! <br />
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Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-22529372652608799492015-10-19T15:00:00.000-04:002015-10-19T15:17:20.181-04:00Hideaway in the Hills: A Mountain Vacation - Day OneThe retirees loaded me up for another week of vacation in February of 2014 and this time we headed north, to the mountains of North Carolina. <br />
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So guess what all of the posts this week are going to include....?<br />
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Yep, mountains.<br />
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love and kisses,<br />
- <em>HistoryDiva</em>Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-53673437092317659502015-10-16T16:00:00.000-04:002015-10-16T16:56:17.945-04:00A Trip to the Sunshine State - Day SevenThe sun rose nice and early on our last full day in FL, and thanks to the electric toothbrush alarm clock I got to witness another lovely sunrise. <br />
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Yeah...really starting to hate that toothbrush. <br />
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Anyway! It was a beautiful day...<br />
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Our itinerary for the day included an excursion to...a couple of State Parks! (<em>Surprise!</em>)<br />
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First up, Falling Waters State Park, home to the only naturally occurring waterfall in the state of FL. Also home to the tallest hill in FL, but more about that later. <br />
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First: SINKHOLES!! <br />
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This entire place (waterfall included) exists because this area of FL is prone to sinkholes. Not really a comforting discovery when you're standing around reading a sign...<br />
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The locals harnessed the power of the river to grind corn. A practice they quickly gave up on when they discovered that they could just make whiskey instead. </div>
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"Ah history, you funny cause you true." </div>
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Limestone + Water = Sinkhole.</div>
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Boom!</div>
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Now you don't have to read that sign.</div>
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To sum up again: Limestone + Water = Sinkhole.</div>
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Dear Tourist,</div>
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Sinkholes are <u>dangerous</u>.</div>
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Smooches,</div>
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FL </div>
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I have to admit I was delighted to discover that Sparkleberry is actually a real thing! </div>
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As opposed to just being a My Little Pony.</div>
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And yes...I was also hoping to run across a Glitter bush, just to make it a matched set. </div>
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What? Inside I'm like 12.</div>
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Oh, and I found a neat bug! </div>
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But he didn't want to be friends.</div>
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He just kinda looked at me and then tried really hard to pretend he was a leaf.</div>
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Jerk.</div>
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And then I found the waterfall!</div>
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And it was lovely. And peaceful.</div>
And just a little bit scary...cause to get to it you have to climb down a bunch of steps suspended from a hillside in an area prone to sinkholes and then stand on a platform suspended over the sinkhole that the waterfall cascades into and they don't actually know how deep the hole is because NOBODY has managed to repel all the way to the bottom yet.<br />
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My uncle...the electric toothbrush owner. </div>
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But he's like...the greatest uncle ever.</div>
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So I just accept that the electric toothbrush thing is a quirk. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
My aunt.</div>
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She's fabulous.</div>
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And we have an amazing relationship.</div>
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Her kids are jealous cause she likes me best. </div>
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The wall of the waterfall, covered in lichens.</div>
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Now on to the other highlight of this particular state park.</div>
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The tallest hill in the entire state of FL.</div>
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At the top of this hill you are higher above sea level than ANYWHERE else in the state. </div>
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Ta-da!</div>
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What?</div>
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That's it...back there...that little swell of trees and dirt just beyond the parking lot.</div>
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It's 324 feet above sea level.</div>
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Don't everybody crowd up during the flood. </div>
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*****</div>
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Our next stop was Florida Caverns State Park, home to the only known cave system in the state of FL...because SINKHOLES!!! </div>
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</div>
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Actually, no. But a girl's gotta tie things together somehow. </div>
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Anyway! Since I have some mild claustrophobia issues now (<em>side effect of other adventures</em>), I decide to do everyone in the tour group a favor and NOT spend the next hour underground. </div>
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I wandered through the visitor's center instead. And there, amongst the displays about FL natural history and Native Tribes, I found a video of a trip through the caverns created expressly for people like me who are all "hey, that's super neat but no thank you." </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
It was both entertaining AND informative. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
But that's not what I enjoyed the most about this particular state park.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You see...down at the other end of the room was a display all about local wildlife.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And you guys??? </div>
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THERE WERE TURTLES!!! </div>
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This is Linda, one of the park volunteers. </div>
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She introduced me to all of her shell-loving buddies.</div>
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I giggled like an idiot.</div>
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Linda was super okay with it. </div>
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We're like BFFs now. </div>
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So thanks for the adventures, Panama City Beach! </div>
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Maybe I'll come back for another visit when it's warm! </div>
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love and kisses,<br />
- <em>HistoryDiva</em><br />
<br />Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-58163571550137490382015-10-15T08:30:00.000-04:002015-10-15T08:30:00.248-04:00A Trip to the Sunshine State - Day SixOn our fifth full day in FL my aunt put her foot down and demanded a day off from state parks. <br />
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So we went shopping all day instead!<br />
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The highlight of our trip was this 'really pricey' bottle of wine.</div>
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Thanks for modeling it for me like a pro, Steve! </div>
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And then the guys decided they needed to feed the birds.</div>
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What? Not every day is jam packed with thrills. And it's nice to have a day of doing 'nothing' while on vacation. </div>
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kisses, </div>
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- <em>HistoryDiva</em></div>
Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-29971203192952570362015-10-14T15:30:00.000-04:002015-10-14T15:54:16.638-04:00A Trip to the Sunshine State - Day FiveUp at dawn again, thanks to the electric toothbrush serenade, but feeling ever so much better and ready to get out and go places again. <br />
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Now, if you haven't caught onto this trend yet, my uncle is big into state parks. So we saw a lot of them on this trip...in fact, we see a lot of them on every trip. But seriously, we went to NINE state parks during our week in FL. That's every single one within 'reasonable driving distance' (i.e. 100 miles) of the hotel. <br />
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But that's okay, because they can be really lovely places.<br />
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Our first stop of the day was...Grayton Beach State Park. <br />
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Lots of ocean and sky...my kind of scenery! </div>
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The guys wandered off down the beach and pretty soon the only people in sight were my aunt and I. Good thing we enjoy each other's company!<br />
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Ocean and sky....</div>
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...and ocean and sky...</div>
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...and ocean and sky...</div>
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...there's a THEME to this post...do you see it??</div>
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YES! It's the Ocean and the Sky! </div>
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Good job.</div>
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After wandering up and down the beach for a while we found a handy dandy bench and decided we would sit around and wait for the guys to turn up. </div>
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My aunt got a little bored so she doodled in the sand.</div>
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But if you look closely, you'll notice something else. Her feet are dangling WAY off the ground. Because here's the thing about the bench we found...it was oddly massive! </div>
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Even I, who am significantly taller than my aunt, had trouble climbing onto this bench. It was really tall, and way too wide to be comfortable so we had to sit really far forward on it. We could both sit facing each other, with our legs crossed under us because it was so wide. We were fascinated with this silly bench because it was just so ridiculously oversized. </div>
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So here's my tiny aunt on a gigantic bench. She's got a good two feet of clearance between her toes and the ground. <br />
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And here she is trying to get off the bench...which took some serious effort! </div>
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Almost there....</div>
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And she's down! </div>
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And yes, I was giggling the entire time. </div>
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The walkway back through the dunes was also ridiculously tall...she was standing on tip-toe just to look over the rail. <br />
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Who planned this place?? <br />
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Anyway, on to our next destination which was: Henderson Beach State Park. (<em>Told you</em>.)<br />
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Oh, but I would like to take a moment here in the middle of this post to give a shout out to the good folks who work for the Florida State Park Service. You guys keep these places amazingly clean and organized. And full props for having well maintained, not scary bathrooms! They were even heated, which is rare. <br />
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Anyway, back to Henderson Beach. <br />
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Another attempt at being 'art-y' with my pictures. </div>
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Sanderling tracks</div>
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There was a naturally occurring tidal pool right at the edge of the beach. It did interesting things to the waves and I got a little fixated on it...sorry. <br />
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My aunt loves watching the shore birds, like sanderlings. This one followed her way down the beach so she named it. <br />
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Hi there, George.</div>
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He even followed me around for a while! </div>
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See what I mean? He's still there...over on the right. </div>
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Someone had built a really nice little sandcastle on the beach earlier in the day, so I stopped to take a picture of it...<br />
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...and got noticed by the locals. </div>
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They were disappointed that we didn't have any bread. Cause they'd heard we 'might' have bread...but we didn't. <br />
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Sorry, fellas. <br />
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Just look at all that blue. <strong>*sigh*</strong> </div>
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That evening after dinner we decided to head down the strip and take a quick look at the more touristy shopping areas on the beach. It was a pretty typical 'open air' mall which had the usual mix of bars and stores but it also had one really major selling point...the Russell-Fields Pier.<br />
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The pier, which was the one the guys had walked to earlier in the week, was actually<strong> three miles</strong> down the beach from our hotel...which explains why they were gone so long! The Pier itself is about 500 yards long, stretching straight out into the Gulf of Mexico and it's a super popular fishing spot...so it's a good thing we were there in the off season. <br />
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So we hiked out to take a look at the sunset.<br />
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Our hotel IS in this picture...just don't expect me to be able to point it out! </div>
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Looking back toward the shore from the very end of the pier. </div>
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Out across the water down the shore line....</div>
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...and up the shore line. </div>
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The most interesting thing about being out at the end of the pier is that there was no noise. All of the sounds you associate with a crowded, tourist-y beach community were gone. Even the waves didn't make noise this far out. There was an odd, almost eerie feeling out there. I called my mom (<em>cell reception was amazingly fantastic</em>) and told her where we were and she was surprised at how quiet it was in the background of the call. </div>
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I wandered back down the pier, watching the waves break against the beach from the other side for few minutes. <br />
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love and kisses, <br />
-<em> HistoryDiva</em> Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-3605668424682632032015-10-13T09:30:00.000-04:002015-10-13T09:30:01.367-04:00A Trip to the Sunshine State - Day FourThe truth about vacations is that if you wait long enough to post your pictures you don't always remember where they were taken. <br />
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I know that I spent another full day of our trip just feeling awful so I stayed at the hotel instead of venturing out...and I believe that was our third full day. I propped myself up with migraine medication and caffeine but I really didn't go out. <br />
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Oh well...sometimes you don't get to participate in everything you'd like to. <br />
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But it was still a lovely day out there. </div>
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Yep, more shots from the balcony. </div>
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But my companions went out to play and enjoy the sunshine! </div>
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Try not to look too much like tourist there, fellas.</div>
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My aunt tells me she gave up 1/4 of the way down this really long pier. </div>
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She also tells me that there is a crane in this picture...I don't quite believe her. </div>
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And they found a 'cute' lighthouse. </div>
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And a boat with my mom's name!</div>
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love and kisses, </div>
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- <em>HistoryDiva</em></div>
Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-52452622406484289362015-10-12T15:30:00.000-04:002015-10-12T15:51:53.636-04:00A Trip to the Sunshine State - Day ThreeI was awakened at dawn on our second full day in FL by the sound of an electric toothbrush echoing in the living room. My uncle, a natural early riser, was already up and about...and brushing his teeth as he wandered. <br />
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Being a light sleeper, I figured I might as well seize the day. <br />
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So here's the thing about dawn...it's lovely.</div>
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January 13, 2014 - 6:14AM</div>
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Just...wow.</div>
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In looking back at these pictures I'm reminded of something that I read recently.</div>
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"There is a sunrise and a sunset every single day. And you can choose to be there. You can put yourself in the way of beauty." </div>
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I need to remember that...and take more advantage of it.</div>
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*****</div>
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Our adventure of the day included a trip to Camp Helen State Park. From 1945 until 1987 Camp Helen was a company resort for the employees of an Alabama textile mill, known as Avondale Mills. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the historic buildings in the park include a water tower, lodge, rainbow cottages, recreation hall and duplexes. </div>
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Being there in the off season we really had the place to ourselves, aside from a few volunteers who were touching up the paint work on a couple of the restored cottages. </div>
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It is really a lovely, peaceful place.</div>
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This is the view from the back porch of the Lodge, looking down toward Lake Powell. </div>
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Camp Helen is located on a little slip of land between Lake Powell and the Gulf of Mexico. So vacationers to the Camp, and tourists of today, can enjoy a day on the lake or a day at the gulf depending on which side of the sand dunes they feel like hanging out on! <br />
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Oh look, it's one of my many attempts at taking an 'art-y' picture. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KhzwcG5L3emdyKNsQA7jSZfm63Q9IIJb06cYaKvShRG7EgwlT85ZPZWZcYNPT9t6wOnq7QvBEF6cN5P4nArE7thed-M8F4IWwj86vLt7s8J-QNn-fAkkyJCIwaCeky42kr_oJXdxq-o/s1600/IMG_1288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KhzwcG5L3emdyKNsQA7jSZfm63Q9IIJb06cYaKvShRG7EgwlT85ZPZWZcYNPT9t6wOnq7QvBEF6cN5P4nArE7thed-M8F4IWwj86vLt7s8J-QNn-fAkkyJCIwaCeky42kr_oJXdxq-o/s1600/IMG_1288.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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A few of the rainbow colored cottages.</div>
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Any Dirty Dancing fans reading this?? </div>
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Yeah...I kept expecting to run into Johnny and Baby around every corner. </div>
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If you look hard...way out there beyond the modern hotels...you can just see the Gulf. </div>
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My companions decided they would hike out across the dunes and take a look around. </div>
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"Hey, you guys!! Turn around!"</div>
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And let me zoom in as close as my cellphone camera will go... </div>
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I decided to go sit inside the Lodge where it was warm. </div>
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But here's a pic of the Gulf-side beach my aunt sent me.</div>
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There were storm clouds rolling in so they didn't stay out long. </div>
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The storm rolled through during our drive back to the hotel and as the skies cleared I snapped this pic from our balcony. I see now why they call it the Emerald Coast. WOW! </div>
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love and kisses, </div>
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- <em>HistoryDiva</em> </div>
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Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-34272153719508337482015-10-09T11:30:00.000-04:002015-10-09T11:30:01.959-04:00A Trip to the Sunshine State - Day TwoWhen the sun rose on my first full day in FL, the state was clearly doing its best to make up for that lousy first impression from the night before.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2h2DiYRDRorszzjpTcMwapAcfZB5DkR3lr5BGPscxjiUxbJC2VcJUpvXrDpFfvWhV3WfOlT9Dzx_IvT47BYalS7hN-qB7YxLdBUWahAK0NCfch2tJXA6ZTW9KTf9BR_lc6nhYcUMIBL8/s1600/IMG_1214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2h2DiYRDRorszzjpTcMwapAcfZB5DkR3lr5BGPscxjiUxbJC2VcJUpvXrDpFfvWhV3WfOlT9Dzx_IvT47BYalS7hN-qB7YxLdBUWahAK0NCfch2tJXA6ZTW9KTf9BR_lc6nhYcUMIBL8/s1600/IMG_1214.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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This was the view from my hotel room window. </div>
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Yeah...that's more like it.</div>
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The only downside to my first full day in the Sunshine State is that I woke up with a screaming migraine headache and NOTHING to take care of it with...no painkillers, no caffeine, no silent room (there was construction going on all around us because it was the off season). So I begged off from the planned events of the day (<em>can you say 'State Parks'?</em>) and found my way to the local W-Mart.</div>
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Once I started to feel better I realized something...I was alone...at a beach resort...</div>
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Yep, I was out the door. </div>
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Oh...</div>
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My...</div>
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Goodness! </div>
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Up the beach...</div>
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and down the beach.</div>
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I had the entire place to myself! And I was frankly astonished. It's not like our hotel was empty...and there were tourists at the other hotels as well. But nobody was around. And I LOVED it!!</div>
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Our hotel.</div>
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Tiny...older...perfect.</div>
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My toes in the sand...</div>
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...waiting for a wave to come in...</div>
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...yes, I'm in blue jeans.</div>
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Because it was freaking JANUARY! </div>
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So, yeah...spent a nice chunk of my afternoon lazing around on the beach.</div>
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Here's a fun fact: all of the dinnerware in this hotel was <a href="https://www.fiestafactorydirect.com/" target="_blank">FiestaWare</a>! Which I happen to LOVE and collect. It was seriously tempting to just load it all into my suitcase and run away with it.<br />
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But I controlled myself cause I'm a grown up. <br />
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Mostly. <br />
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That evening the guys (my uncle and a family friend who had come with us) decided that they would take a pre-dinner walk down the beach to the nearest pier, which wasn't more than a half mile or so away. <br />
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Yeah...no. It was more like a mile and a half away. <br />
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So the guys were gone a LONG time. Dinner was ready and waiting...and waiting...and waiting but the time they got back. <br />
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My aunt and I teased them about this 'short little walk' for the rest of the week. <br />
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love and kisses, <br />
- <em>HistoryDiva</em>Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-61251589834189752372015-10-08T10:30:00.000-04:002015-10-08T12:05:03.520-04:00Thursday Funny<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrF832krL0ig9IErBu_WB5W8hFJ54Ek1A-9LXvzyWCu4czU0wf47Mdcon6jeO6fnZuFSx2mzBKdvtcFztIWVShyHOHL78o4bmnp5AM0KxgkwsPMk-HH4ZrC84YvrwqXhILZ1mtmo9IQs/s1600/IMG_1714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrF832krL0ig9IErBu_WB5W8hFJ54Ek1A-9LXvzyWCu4czU0wf47Mdcon6jeO6fnZuFSx2mzBKdvtcFztIWVShyHOHL78o4bmnp5AM0KxgkwsPMk-HH4ZrC84YvrwqXhILZ1mtmo9IQs/s640/IMG_1714.JPG" width="356" /></a></div>
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Tiny aunt.</div>
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Gigantic swing.</div>
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You're welcome.</div>
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love and kisses, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
- <em>HistoryDiva</em></div>
Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-19829756147144767552015-10-07T09:00:00.000-04:002015-10-08T12:00:50.560-04:00A Trip to the Sunshine State - Day OneBack in January of 2014 my retired aunt and uncle decided that it was time to take me to a place I'd never visited before...the state of Florida.<br />
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Now don't get all excited thinking this means posts full of a certain 'mouse-y' theme park because no, retirees don't do overpriced and crowded. And if I'm honest, I don't care for it much either.<br />
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No, retirees do off-season ocean-front state-park vacations. Which is just fine with me.<br />
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So...Florida in January...because OF COURSE.<br />
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We left during the middle of a massive and slightly scary rain storm...and by 'slightly scary' I mean the tornado warning sirens were going off as we drove past them. We survived the driving rain and wind and headed out of state. <br />
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Our first and only stop was in the small town of Eufaula, Alabama. Now, if you look nice and hard you might find this metropolis on a map, but I doubt it. After miles of empty highway we were nearing lunch time and my uncle, being the fearless leader of our convoy, cut across multiple lanes of traffic because he'd spotted his favorite restaurant...KFC.<br />
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Now, the KFC in Eufaula has seen better days. While we stood huddled in front of the register we were informed that the ovens were not working so about half of the menu was unavailable. Orders adjusted accordingly we took our seats a slightly sticky table and watched as rain dripped from several of the overhead light fixtures. I risked a rather harrowing trip to the ladies room (greasy floors, slimy walls, muggy air) and returned to our table just as the power went out.<br />
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I was pretty convinced that I was going to die there.<br />
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Once we were back on the road we headed 'decidedly south' toward the state line.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJaAVyzU_ipNNFA0jy9-s2_hxRmeprpXmbFxLQwF1wrhrQBzlLmStLeJxl1q4ac94r7HiTCEbVt3surHeRd9BDcBXWtG8i5InEIl-9QGjuhiFNPTNoFCnEUKEQAfWD8kaUzJLXb9NEbg/s1600/IMG_1190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJaAVyzU_ipNNFA0jy9-s2_hxRmeprpXmbFxLQwF1wrhrQBzlLmStLeJxl1q4ac94r7HiTCEbVt3surHeRd9BDcBXWtG8i5InEIl-9QGjuhiFNPTNoFCnEUKEQAfWD8kaUzJLXb9NEbg/s1600/IMG_1190.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
Upon arrival in 'American's dangly bits' I noticed two very distinct things about the place. <br />
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1.) There was no sunshine in the "Sunshine State."<br />
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2.) The place smelled like a dead skunk.<br />
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Way to make a first impression there FL. <br />
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But this was my beach vacation so I decided that I was going to have a good time any way. So here's a random dolphin that was outside the visitor's center. It was painted with 'scenes of Florida'...I think I would have liked it better if it had been painted like a dolphin. But hey, art is subjective. </div>
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Here's the random promotional cardboard standup inside the visitor's center...which was just to good of an opportunity for 'enforced participation' by family members. <br />
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So here's the DivaUncle</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBaW8erOxi115BkaOJwPQErGt79VdgOxU1nOY-4mdlDK5NQndzG0652ULVc1L5LZB1D2jJUJjSu8_EQOppxrjc5a5r_h9okF7E4QiHvUjoDbpDUV2RBMNH0ANd9noamh6KWCzr4qcpJw/s1600/IMG_1196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBaW8erOxi115BkaOJwPQErGt79VdgOxU1nOY-4mdlDK5NQndzG0652ULVc1L5LZB1D2jJUJjSu8_EQOppxrjc5a5r_h9okF7E4QiHvUjoDbpDUV2RBMNH0ANd9noamh6KWCzr4qcpJw/s1600/IMG_1196.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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And the much shorter DivaAunt</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJUH2Z-_wcrod88n2WwbvgErAibo9o_5483L_nLIZJ193KEIkauwLM2suuctmOYJ-TboNz3uYgrY4y_udez6u0QzC_Nr3pO8vjozGcLXPMMRAqaCmZC7NsOZh7RrzR4RxvX7Z7DIa4CQ/s1600/IMG_1199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJUH2Z-_wcrod88n2WwbvgErAibo9o_5483L_nLIZJ193KEIkauwLM2suuctmOYJ-TboNz3uYgrY4y_udez6u0QzC_Nr3pO8vjozGcLXPMMRAqaCmZC7NsOZh7RrzR4RxvX7Z7DIa4CQ/s1600/IMG_1199.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Random Astronaut.</div>
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I totally wandered up to it and said "Hello, sweetie." Because OF COURSE I did. (<em>Shout out to all my fellow Whovians.</em>) <br />
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My very first look at the Gulf of Mexico.</div>
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So...yeah...kinda the opposite of impressive. </div>
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The mist/fog started to clear right at sunset and I'll admit that my first few hours in FL weren't really that impressive, however; my hotel room was ocean front so I got to fall asleep listening to the waves...which made the fact that I had to share a bathroom for a week a little more bearable. </div>
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love and kisses, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
- <em>HistoryDiva</em></div>
Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-5097422903164115142015-10-06T15:30:00.000-04:002015-10-06T15:30:01.963-04:00Almost Sweater WeatherWhat is it about the autumn that just speaks to the soul?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvawae3y4hMFpj0dw-N74ty1HFVxnodbtY6hVPqUWECAp5J8MaIyg3NJyETmD-MaEOJULzhE8Brvgnu9SX1J8HbfiS4l2xkI4y-cBk3hNN_SQZBYHvcDzHFuEcav1cBPST4NL83YsDBk/s1600/fall-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvawae3y4hMFpj0dw-N74ty1HFVxnodbtY6hVPqUWECAp5J8MaIyg3NJyETmD-MaEOJULzhE8Brvgnu9SX1J8HbfiS4l2xkI4y-cBk3hNN_SQZBYHvcDzHFuEcav1cBPST4NL83YsDBk/s400/fall-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I love this time of year, with its crisp mornings and warm afternoons. When the leaves change color it looks like the world has been painted. It's one last hurrah before the deep gray mist of winter (<em>which, I could totally do without</em>).<br />
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October is when it really begins to feel like Fall in this area.<br />
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It's time for pumpkins, and apples, and decorative gourds... <br />
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Fall makes me want to buy school supplies...and since I'm no longer in school, nor do I have children, I'm really not going to be fooling anybody when I buy that big box of crayons am I? Oh well. <br />
<br />
There are parts of this fall that will be great.<br />
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There are parts that won't be so great.<br />
<br />
BUT, I will revel in the season and all that it has to offer.<br />
<br />
Some of the highlights: <br />
<br />
Georgia National Fair - October 8 to October 18<br />
Mule Camp Market - October 9 to October 11<br />
Highland Games - October 16 to October 18<br />
Gold Rush Days - October 17 and October 18<br />
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Not to mention corn mazes, ghost tours, and Oktoberfest. <br />
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Get out there and enjoy!<br />
<br />
love and kisses, <br />
- <em>HistoryDiva </em>Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-62093174770392667542015-10-05T14:30:00.000-04:002015-10-05T14:54:02.463-04:00You know what?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPA_dYisuVT4mC1XzJ-Mf-KYR4pC70LZJ867mFw3_WBwsUn5h639cjkdUfexVFW9hiOqVPYs7FBOHqEb0tPHGF0evteGWvPQoQSzOwST_wEXfFBsuKlNPLV94FcrUuXcXwawlspDAgfIQ/s1600/Happy+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPA_dYisuVT4mC1XzJ-Mf-KYR4pC70LZJ867mFw3_WBwsUn5h639cjkdUfexVFW9hiOqVPYs7FBOHqEb0tPHGF0evteGWvPQoQSzOwST_wEXfFBsuKlNPLV94FcrUuXcXwawlspDAgfIQ/s640/Happy+1.jpg" width="451" /></a></div>
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It just dawned on me that this place could use a little more...happy. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4HEWz2dMhjlZsHM4UWiXKmq_AlYUf9aZiiSbdJHCOSG5G_jdjxrmfq_QsjrPzRbQUiSjeiHekE2S824KdSipWAeyTkOvlg5sYqUbDudYrGvvtJDyGskbNAiG0HVZ52oM5X01Wq_CXxA/s1600/Happy+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4HEWz2dMhjlZsHM4UWiXKmq_AlYUf9aZiiSbdJHCOSG5G_jdjxrmfq_QsjrPzRbQUiSjeiHekE2S824KdSipWAeyTkOvlg5sYqUbDudYrGvvtJDyGskbNAiG0HVZ52oM5X01Wq_CXxA/s400/Happy+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Seriously...there is a LOT of mopey and sad on this blog right now.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUfKutpMhcFxlxv5YxWgPB4pdsSarDq5ZfaKLZEJ3ZOGRHNLNJ15V-OO3K9eYkDJeeQksQ8aAfkQrrS2g1ASwZnJlDq5zDqIN_KZbSXBhLfVhfJuVU-yynqRgQp5AjsVABAazXIByQcY/s1600/Happy+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUfKutpMhcFxlxv5YxWgPB4pdsSarDq5ZfaKLZEJ3ZOGRHNLNJ15V-OO3K9eYkDJeeQksQ8aAfkQrrS2g1ASwZnJlDq5zDqIN_KZbSXBhLfVhfJuVU-yynqRgQp5AjsVABAazXIByQcY/s400/Happy+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Poor sad, neglected blog. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSari37CKxWehLMbbU7dWgnAY0-fSStiTIn0GvlDBEHdKzM5pCf3wSj7d26s5nF5bq9u97cTm2hQqJMolpNQacJU8cndzNjjxo1_8m3O37USWHQvO4cltprZ0he9wMYOOOc9aHGSTs5Sg/s1600/Happy+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSari37CKxWehLMbbU7dWgnAY0-fSStiTIn0GvlDBEHdKzM5pCf3wSj7d26s5nF5bq9u97cTm2hQqJMolpNQacJU8cndzNjjxo1_8m3O37USWHQvO4cltprZ0he9wMYOOOc9aHGSTs5Sg/s400/Happy+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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So NO. </div>
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No more.</div>
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Fixing things starts now.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Yw7FU2EfyMtXyVh-NyeLALM_vKPZ-1UDy21Sm3RdBMaqkhZmVL1gbXgwwTTMQlRJYGcPCACpYh8UFi-DU1SbUzJOtqNww39GvL5UAzjPb07Px_kfy_KSTCEFDtrAHRwWQafITmnBiMQ/s1600/Happy+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Yw7FU2EfyMtXyVh-NyeLALM_vKPZ-1UDy21Sm3RdBMaqkhZmVL1gbXgwwTTMQlRJYGcPCACpYh8UFi-DU1SbUzJOtqNww39GvL5UAzjPb07Px_kfy_KSTCEFDtrAHRwWQafITmnBiMQ/s400/Happy+7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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love and kisses,</div>
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- <em>HistoryDiva</em> </div>
Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802762416876506626.post-58495571687198669682015-04-16T17:00:00.000-04:002015-04-16T17:00:05.523-04:00...springtime is rollin' round slowly...So...2014 was a bad year.<br />
<br />
Well, it was half a bad year.<br />
<br />
Oh who are we kidding...it was the worst 1/2 year I've ever had.<br />
<br />
Its been very, very quiet here on the blog because...well...I have to be in a good place and in good head space to tell you a story and I haven't been in either of those since June 1, 2014. <br />
<br />
For a lot of reasons.<br />
<br />
For one really big reason.<br />
<br />
For a story that I'll tell you later...when I'm ready...when it doesn't hurt so much.<br />
<br />
Cause right now it's too much.<br />
<br />
So I'll tell you other stories instead.<br />
<br />
Because I know that my <strong><em>happy</em></strong> is still out there...just waiting for me to come back to it.<br />
<br />
And I will...but I'm not there yet.<br />
<br />
- <em>HistoryDiva</em>Kristine the HistoryDivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10199937772614856686noreply@blogger.com0